King’s 1922 and Redwood–A Comparison

“That Land is Cursed.”

I recently watched the movie adaption of Stephen King’s 1922 and I was pleasantly surprised and struck by the character parallels in this story and Redwood–both feature seemingly ordinary, nonviolent husbands who are driven to murder.

In the beginning of 1922, Mr. James states every man has a different man inside of him. He, like my character James MacKenna, grew to hate his wife for similar reasons. And, both ultimately decide that it is their wives’ other interests that will impede them from the lives they wish to live, therefore murder is the only solution to their problems.

Both Autumn MacKenna and Arlette James had inherited their wealth and both shared a preference for the city, pretty clothes, and neither had no real interest in the land, the crops, or their husband’s commitment to working the land and establishing a legacy.

The paralleled torment both men experience throughout 1922 and Redwood are expressed through real and imagined images of their murdered wives, from their clothing, the dark lingering shadows, and the whispering in their ears that scrape into their consciences. Autumn and Arlette are able to find ways to torment their husbands and in Autumn’s case curse the land. There is a moment though, where Arlette expresses acts of compassion, something Autumn will never do.

Both husbands leave confessions expressing their guilt and both ultimately meet their demise, with visions of the dead filling their final glimpses of the living.

1922 and Redwood are character-driven stories. I am glad I had never read or viewed this work of King before setting out to write Redwood, because it further convinces me that while it takes patience and commitment from the reader or viewer, a character-driven story will ultimately be long remembered and treasured. And, I am further convinced that readers will fall in love with Redwood’s characters and may even at times feel empathy for the fallen characters as well.